CALLAHAN – Playing its first home playoff game in 39 years, West Nassau erased two lengthy playoff streaks in a 35-7 win over Marianna in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Behind a lethal rushing game and the area’s fifth best defense, West Nassau won its first playoff game since 1978 and its first ever home playoff game in the process with the dominating win.
A mammoth offensive line featuring Trey McCullough,Raymond Pace, Brent Whitaker, Jacob Ash and tight end Elijah Canode paved the way for a big night for both quarterback Walker Wright and tailback Kyler Crosby.
Crosby, who entered the game fifth in rushing in the area with 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns, scorched the Bulldogs defense for three first half touchdowns and Wright ran for a touchdown and kept the Bulldogs guessing by throwing 9 of 13 for 132 yards in an option based offense.
Linebacker Levi Mumford led the defense with numerous tackles on the night especially in the second half including key stops on a two fourth down plays, while holding the Bulldogs option offense to just one score.
After both teams spent the first drive feeling each other out, Wright connected with Crosby on a pass out of the backfield good for a 26 yard gain to put them across the other side of the field. Two plays later, Crosby raced 34 yards untouched for a 7-0 lead with 4:31 left in the first quarter.
A 50 yard punt return from Cameron Atwater put the Warriors in great field position on their next drive taking over at the 38-yard line. Travis Holton took a hand off from Wright on the ensuing play and was immediately by a host of Bulldogs but was able to bounce off the miss tackles and cut right for a 18 yard gain down to the 18 yard line.
Four plays later, Crosby found a hole and raced 11 yards for his second touchdown of the first quarter and a 14-0 lead with 52.6 left in the first quarter.
While the Warriors offense had no problems moving up and down the field, Marianna option offense led by quarterback Marquis Kelly had no room to run thanks to the Warrior defense led by Mumford.
Part of the success of shutting down the Marianna option offense was the familiarity of seeing it every day in practice as West Nassau runs a variation of the option offense as well.
“We understood our assignments and if everyone does their job this defense is tough to score on,” Mumford said.
“Absolutely that plays a huge part in it, that always plays a part in it, we see it every day in practice,” West Nassau coach Rickey Armstrong stated.
West Nassau added to its lead midway through the second quarter with a 11 play, 81 yard drive capped by a Crosby 2 yard run increasing the lead to 21-0 with 3:12 left till half. Wright found Canode wide open for a 31 yard gain on the third play of the drive to put them at midfield and then Wyatt Johnson and Holton also on the drive to pick up key first downs as well, the latter which put them inside the 2-yard line.
Harris lost the handle on the snap a few plays later and Garrett Anderson recovered the fumble for the Warriors at the 20-yard line.
Wright kept it on a option keeper and behind a great block from the left tackle found the end zone for a 28-0 lead with 20.1 seconds left till half.
Marianna received the second half kickoff and put together its best drive of the game as the Bulldogs ditched the option for quick out routes to move down the field. Harris led the Bulldogs on a 12 play, 91 yard drive capping it with a Deantyre Rhynes 1 yard run cutting the lead to 28-7 with 7:45 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs defense forced a quick three and out and had all the momentum back suddenly.
Harris faced a fourth and four play late in the third quarter however Mumford was there and in the backfield to hit Harris for a loss and give the Warriors the ball back.
Late in the fourth, Mumford again stopped Marianna on a fourth and two play again to give the Warriors the ball back and all the momentum as well.
As the clock finally hit zeros the players, coaches and fans celebrated their first playoff win since 1978.
“This means a lot to our program and community,” Armstrong said. “I have always thought we were a top ten program who just couldn’t get the breaks by having to go through Bolles and/or Raines. ”
Now West Nassau (9-1) will set their sights on continuing making history by taking down No. 1 Raines (10-1) and advance to the third round for the first time in school history.
“We’re ready, we have been waiting for this game for a while now,” Armstrong said. “We play them every year but there is a big difference between playing in the regular season and in the playoffs. Obviously we are going to have play a great game and have no turnovers to win.”
